URGENT INFO FOR WASATCH FRONT ELK HUNTERS

alpinebowman · Aug 1, 2014

i know this is not the UTAH section but we need everyone to see this to spread the word so our friends and buddies don't get burned.

I need you guys to get some info out to anyone that may be chasing elk on the Wasatch Front extended. Last fall the division changed the hunt on the portion of the unit south of I-80. Being part of the Wasatch limited entry bull hunt this year you are only allowed to kill a spike or a cow from August 16th - Sept 5th. You can then not hunt elk from Sept 6th - Sept 12th. It then opens up to an any elk unit from Sept 13th - Dec 15th.

This change was unknown to even Ben Lowder and We were all sure it was a typo. He has communicated with a couple division people in the know that verified this change. So again please pass this on, the DWR has placed signs at the trail heads but I am sure not many stop and read them. We truly don't want to see anybody get caught with a great bull only to lose it because of this change.

Be assured UBA is already working to figure out a way to fix this issue and find out how many outside of the division even realized this was changed including the wildlife board and RAC's.

alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->

Hawkeye · Aug 1, 2014

Ken-

I just heard about this change a couple of days ago. What was the reasoning of this change? Who lobbied or pushed for this change? Would it be possible to get some more details?

Thanks.

Hawkeye

Browning A-Bolt 300 Win Mag
Bowtech Destroyer
Winchester Apex .50 Cal

alpinebowman · Aug 1, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Aug-01-14 AT 08:50AM (MST)[p]Hawkeye,
I don't have a great amount of detail but from what Ben gathered the division was reacting to the complaints from the Sanpete extended area. The gripe was OTC hunters were killing bulls that the LE guys had waited years to chase. Since the WF was a similar on paper changes to both were made consistent. In my opinion that I think many others share is the bulls on the WF will never be in an area a LE guy can or would hunt for the size of bull available. Ben is still working on getting more details so I will try to keep everyone updated. The best place would be the Utah bowmens association FB page.

alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->

ArcherBen55 · Aug 1, 2014

URGENT WASATCH FRONT ARCHERY ELK INFO ? UPDATE

Over the past two days, I have been working with the DWR Big Game Coordinator, Justin Shannon, to understand how this change happened without being discussed at the RACs and Wildlife Board. The simple fact is that this change was not presented to the RACs, and was presented to the Wildlife Board simply as a housekeeping item concerning season dates. Justin has told me that this was never meant to be deceptively presented without notice. Rather, it simply got overlooked amidst other controversial proposals. Justin is a very honest person, and as such, I believe him completely.

My biggest concern since learning of this change is a concern of the legal ramifications for the uninformed archery elk hunter who in the past would otherwise be a lawful hunter. Fortunately, Justin has taken action to correct and make right this issue. He contacted me this afternoon to alert me to the fact that the DWR has changed the dates to allow the take of any elk (including branch antlered bulls) on the Wasatch front extended area during both the general season and the extended season. This effectively makes it legal to hunt branch antlered bulls on the Wasatch Front extended area from Aug 16 ? Dec 15 with a general archery elk tag. The signs that were initially placed at trail heads have been taken down, the online 2014 Big Game Field Regulations has been updated, and a correction has been added to 2014 guidebooks webpage.

A big thanks to Justin and the DWR for recognizing the issue and taking action to make right the issue.

ArcherBen55 · Aug 1, 2014

The changes can be seen at:

http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting-in...409-2014-utah-big-game-field-regulations.html

Page 18: There was an error in the dates provided in which a hunter with a general-season archery elk permit may use archery equipment to take a branch-antlered bull on the Wasatch Front extended archery area. Hunters may harvest a branch-antlered bull on the Wasatch Front extended archery area from Aug. 16?Sept. 12, 2014.

BeDawg · Aug 1, 2014

Here is a random question to all. If I buy an archery elk general tag, can I still hunt an extended area?

DW · Aug 1, 2014

Don't you guys have a "what's new for this year" section in your hunting brochure? Or did this just happen the last few days?

elkfromabove · Aug 1, 2014

>Here is a random question to
>all. If I buy an
>archery elk general tag, can
>I still hunt an extended
>area?

YES, even if you buy it after the general season. And the number of general archery elk tags is unlimited!

elkfromabove · Aug 1, 2014

>Don't you guys have a "what's
>new for this year" section
>in your hunting brochure? Or
>did this just happen the
>last few days?

The change from last year didn't go through the normal public process and it was overlooked until a few days ago so it didn't appear in the printed proclamation and was just corrected in the online version.

DW · Aug 1, 2014

>>Don't you guys have a "what's
>>new for this year" section
>>in your hunting brochure? Or
>>did this just happen the
>>last few days?
>
>The change from last year didn't
>go through the normal public
>process and it was overlooked
>until a few days ago
>so it didn't appear in
>the printed proclamation and was
>just corrected in the online
>version.

Looks like a speed trap!

twsnow18 · Aug 2, 2014

Isn't that kind of a bummer to have to hunt for archery bulls before the rut really gets going? Those are such odd dates. Looking for input from residents here.

alpinebowman · Aug 5, 2014

tsnow,
The area we are talking about can now be hunted from Aug. 16th to Dec 15th so we get the rut even though it doesn't do much good in this area. In general though the archery hunt in Utah ends far to early even on the LE hunt to get into the rut. It is unfortunate but it is what it is. We have to travel out of the state to enjoy a solid archery rut hunt.
alpinebowman

>>>---shots that are true pass right through--->